[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1994, Book I)]
[February 10, 1994]
[Page 257]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



[[Page 257]]


Letter to Burmese Opposition Leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi
February 10, 1994

Dear Daw Aung San Suu Kyi:
    Let me take the opportunity to express again my deep concern about 
your welfare and to applaud your remarkable courage in pursuing human 
rights and democracy for the people of Burma. Despite your four and one-
half years of detention, your determination and courage continue to 
inspire friends of freedom around the world. Recent resolutions adopted 
in the United Nations General Assembly and the United Nations Human 
Rights Commission make clear the international community's outrage over 
your continued detention as well as that of all other prisoners of 
conscience in Burma.
    I also want to assure you of the United States' continuing support 
for the struggle to promote freedom in Burma. The 1990 elections handed 
your party an overwhelming mandate from Burma's people and firmly 
rejected military rule. Obviously, the path to democratic change must be 
worked out by the Burmese themselves who have assigned you a key role in 
bringing about such a democratic transition. We strongly condemn the 
effort to deny you the right to participate freely in the political life 
of Burma.
    You have my utmost admiration for your stand. Like your courageous 
father, you symbolize the authentic aspirations of the Burmese people. 
History is on the side of freedom throughout the world and I remain 
confident that your cause will prevail.
    Please accept my warmest personal regards.
    Sincerely,

                                                            Bill Clinton

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this letter. The letter was attached to the following statement by the 
Press Secretary which was released on February 15:

    President Clinton has sent a letter to detained Burmese opposition 
leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi to offer his 
support for her efforts on behalf of democracy and human rights in 
Burma. Congressman Bill Richardson of New Mexico, Deputy Majority Whip, 
was invited by Burmese authorities to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi on 
February 14 and has delivered the President's letter to her. He met with 
her again today. Congressman Richardson is the first person outside of 
Aung San Suu Kyi's immediate family to meet with her since she was 
placed under house arrest in July 1989.
    The United States urges Burma's military leaders to build on this 
small step by beginning a dialog with Aung San Suu Kyi and moving toward 
genuine democratic reform. The Burmese people made clear their desire 
for an end to more than three decades of military rule and the 
establishment of democratic government in the 1990 elections, but the 
government continues to thwart implementation of the results. The 
President regards the continued detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and all 
other prisoners of conscience in Burma as unacceptable and renews his 
call for their immediate and unconditional release.